Full Breakdown
Stewart Cink Secures 2025 PGA Tour Champions Title
11/18/2025, 3:33:17 PM
Cink's Championship Victory
Stewart Cink clinched the 2025 PGA Tour Champions title by winning the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship on November 16, 2025, at Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix, Arizona. Cink's performance included a bogey-free final round of 4-under 67, bringing his total score to 20-under 264, which secured him a two-stroke victory over Steven Alker, the third-round leader. This win not only earned Cink the tournament title but also the prestigious Charles Schwab Cup, awarded to the top golfer of the season on the PGA Tour Champions.
Cink's victory was significant as he overcame a one-stroke deficit entering the final round. Alker, who was aiming for his third Charles Schwab Cup in four years, struggled on the 18th hole, hitting his second shot into a greenside lake, resulting in a closing bogey. Cink expressed his satisfaction with the win, stating, “It feels really, really good... to have put it out there and to make it my goal and to talk about it often and then to accomplish it.”
Season Performance and Historical Context
This championship marked Cink's third tournament win of the season and his fourth overall in 36 starts on the PGA Tour Champions, a circuit for golfers aged 50 and older. Cink's achievements this year also included a $528,000 winner's check for the tournament and a $1 million bonus for the season championship. He became only the fourth golfer in PGA Tour Champions history to win both the season-ending tournament and the season championship in the same year, joining the ranks of Tom Watson (2005), Tom Lehman (2012), and Kevin Sutherland (2017).
Cink, a Florence native and Bradshaw High School alumnus, has a notable history in professional golf, including eight victories on the PGA Tour, highlighted by his 2009 Open Championship win against Tom Watson.
Official Statements & Responses
Cink reflected on his journey throughout the season, noting, “Start to finish, I'm a different player than I was at the start of the year... this week was just like icing on the cake and validation for the work that (coach) John Scott and I are putting in.” Alker acknowledged Cink's skill, stating, “He's a world-class player. He could still play on the PGA Tour...”
Criticism & Opposition
While Cink's victory was celebrated, Alker's performance drew some scrutiny. He noted his struggles with putting during the final round, which he felt contributed to his inability to maintain his lead. “I got a jumper flyer on No. 10... just felt like the putter -- I three-putted one from the fringe today -- just felt like it let me down on that front nine,” Alker commented.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Start to finish, I'm a different player than I was at the start of the year and this week was just like icing on the cake and validation for the work that (coach) John Scott and I are putting in, and Billy, my trainer at home.” — Stewart Cink
- “He's a world-class player. He could still play on the PGA Tour, he's got enough length and he still putts it nice and chips it nice,” — Steven Alker
Cink's triumph at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship not only highlights his skills and determination but also sets a precedent for future competitors in the PGA Tour Champions.
